Design of a 17–24-GHz High-Efficiency Power Amplifier for Satellite Communications

In this letter, a ${K}$ -band high-efficiency power amplifier (PA) design using modified resistive-reactive hybrid continuous modes (HCMs) is presented. These modified modes can increase the real part of the fundamental impedance when the second harmonic impedances become resistive-reactive. This helps to reduce the impedance transformation ratio when applying modified modes in transistors with a small optimal impedance ( ${R} _{\rm opt}$ ), as well as making HCMs more practical in these transistors. For ${K}$ -band Satcom downlink applications, by using this method, combined with a compact output matching network (OMN) design, high performance, and high integration PA can be achieved. A $2\times1.2$ mm GaAs pHEMT PA operating at 17–24 GHz was designed and fabricated to verify the theory. Continuous wave measurements show that the saturation output power is greater than 0.5 W and an average power-added efficiency (PAE) of 42%.